Outrage over Tim Hortons’ cuts goes national, 50 actions planned outside locations from Halifax to Vancouver by Leadnow and the Fight for $15 and Fairness

/EIN News/ -- TORONTO, Jan. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Over 50 protests are taking place today at Tim Hortons locations across the country as part of a National Day of Action Against the Cuts. The national protests are in response to Tim Hortons clawing back workers’ benefits, paid breaks and other perks as a result of the minimum wage increase in Ontario.

Protesters outside Tim Hortons call on the company to protect workers.

The actions are organized by advocacy group Leadnow and the Fight for $15 & Fairness Campaign. They are calling on Tim Hortons’ parent company Restaurant Brands International (RBI) to take whatever steps necessary to reverse the cuts and ensure the wages and working conditions of Tim Hortons employees are fully protected.

“It’s shameful that Tim Hortons has done nothing to stop the attacks on the workers that have made the company billions of dollars,” said Fair Economy Campaigner Brittany Smith. “The outrage on the streets today is a warning to Tim Hortons: step in to protect your workers or say goodbye to your customers."

After the cuts facing Tim Hortons workers were revealed, Leadnow launched a petition calling for workers’ protections, which has almost 20,000 signatures so far. The Fight for $15 & Fairness quickly mobilized actions at Tim Hortons locations across Ontario last week and on Monday, staged a flash mob outside of RBI’s headquarters in Oakville, ON. Now, the two groups have harnessed national outrage stretching from Halifax to Vancouver with snap actions in most major towns and cities.

Restaurant Brands International publicly denounced the clawbacks to workers, but Leadnow and the Fight for $15 & Fairness say that’s nowhere near enough — they want to see concrete action taken.

“The changes in Ontario’s labour laws were intended to make life a bit better for workers,” said Deena Ladd, Coordinator of the Workers’ Action Centre. “That this wildly profitable company would rather squeeze workers than share a small portion of their massive profit is sickening. We simply can’t stand by and let this happen. Our movement is growing and we won’t stop until Tim Hortons makes it right.”